How should I respond after a near-collision that isn’t my fault?

Posted by fortcronkite@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 70 comments

I was sailing down the channel, trying to keep my course for a run. Another sailboat is motoring behind me at about twice my speed, on its way to overtake me. I'm holding course, and before I know it I realize that the skipper of the other boat is paying no attention and is about to run me down. He is distracted by putting his sail covers on and has nobody at the helm. After some aversive maneuvers and yelling hey, the other skipper sees, steers a bit and gives a wave and big smile. Should i have had a conversation with him to tell him he caused a near collision? His smile made it seem he had no idea. Or just let him go about his day and maybe do the same again later?

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Dockalfar@reddit

What resolution do you want? You could have radioed to him that he should be more careful, but that's about it.

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Bob_Lablah_esq@reddit

Radio, sure..... Announce his behavior on ch 9 repeated ly calling a PAN PAN ....you know to " warn " others of the danger he presents? Then do the same on every channel as you increase up through the dial. Someone will notice.........

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worktogethernow@reddit

Way down on my todo list is getting a PA speaker for my radio. That will get me a fog horn and a hailer. It would be nice to speak calmly but with a very loud voice.

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permalink_child@reddit

Radio? Not likely.

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Dockalfar@reddit

Well shouting probably wouldn't work...

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eight13atnight@reddit

What the heck is “causing a near collision”?

Nothing happened! There’s nothing to confront him about.

At most you give him a few choice words in the moment. Word choice can be regional…Here in NJ the words are dramatically different than in, say, Vancouver CA!

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KoalaOriginal1260@reddit

Am in Vancouver. Can confirm.

Choice words here would be to make a note of his appearance, find him on the dock afterwards, tell him 'hey, we should go for a pint sometime!' and then ghost him for eternity, but always make a point of mentioning going for a pint every time you see him on the docks.

That's just the level of passive aggressive we stoop to here on the West Coast.

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worktogethernow@reddit

One more reason I wouldn't make it out west.

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Unidentifiedasscheek@reddit

Considering i hate alcohol and am introverted as hell, I count this as a win.

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Spiggots@reddit

I hate the attitude that "I didn't hit you / there was no collision, therefore it's okay"

That is some bullshit, man. You are operating your vessel in such a dumbshit way that I have to drop my reasonable and appropriate course/plans and focus on solving the problems you've created. At best it's rude, at worst it's dangerous, ie when playing "I'm a dumb idiot chicken" causes an operator to make an otherwise ill-conceived move to avoid you.

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Ar7_Vandelay@reddit

Horn

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Midnite135@reddit

I don’t think most of these are saying it’s okay.

I think the majority are saying that it isn’t okay, but it’s over now and there’s no damage and therefore a confrontation isn’t likely to net a positive result.

He probably won’t be like, oh that’s great advice let me take that as a life lesson. There’s potential for you to escalate a situation where you are also not the authority.

If he missed it and narrowly avoided a close call he would probably realize that. Just like in traffic if I don’t see a vehicle early enough and have to brake a little too hard for my taste (not slamming the brakes), I’d be making an adjustment.

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Spiggots@reddit

Yeah, I completely agree with your read of the situation, ie confrontation in the moment isnt going to improve anyone's safety or day.

There's a few (minority) folks here, though..."No collision no problem!", "Well racers see it different" etc etc. I see that a lot in my area, mostly from fleet racers on club boats.

But I'm just saying: the way we operate our boats shouldn't be someone else's problem. Don't play chicken and think it's fine as long as you don't collide.

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MissingGravitas@reddit

There's a few (minority) folks here, though..."No collision no problem!", "Well racers see it different" etc etc. I see that a lot in my area, mostly from fleet racers on club boats.

With a disturbing amount of upvotes too.

Doesn't matter if someone's a racer if they're not in a race. Just because you're really good at drifting your Porsche on the track doesn't mean it's OK to do it in the city.

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Midnite135@reddit

I agree with that completely.

Although no experience with racers vs the rest really outside of here. Unfortunately I dont yet have my first sailboat. I’m still in the dream mode.

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backbonus@reddit

Raise the Jolly Roger, fire your flare gun across his bow and board him.

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Spiggots@reddit

Finally some practical solutions!

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Unidentifiedasscheek@reddit

If you don't raise your jolly roger flag then you're doing it wrong.

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Bob_Lablah_esq@reddit

Not that I know from personal experience or anything...... but flying the Jolly Roger as a joke in the Caribbean gives their navy the right under Caribbean maritime law still on the books to ire on and sink your vessel no warning. Though they will rapidly come and sternly educate you while you're below deck with your girl scaring the hell outta you and her with the radar collision alarm going off and radio announcements of intent to board and we all to get dressed quick not even goving you the courtesy to finish your nooner business.....

Though that's what I've heard could happen......

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sailingtroy@reddit

Nah man, he gets it. Relax. Guys who race and singlehanders have a different definition of "close." It's over, let it go.

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fastautomation@reddit

If my bow pulpit or my spin pole isn't overlapping your deck, we aren't close yet :-)

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Bob_Lablah_esq@reddit

You need to be able to clip in Austrian belay style and fly over on your topping lift Peter Pan Style. With your top of mast center and masthead fly over his port stanchions neither willing to yeild on a starboard tack, be damned the rules. Being so close your're just about to fly in and Peter Pan impregnate his first mate, it's so close. When unbeknownst to you, your first mate gets jealous, rapidly pays out your mainsheet dangerously fast, locking your gunwhale under his, over heeling him your jib still locked and driving your bow towards him forcing your gun whales tighter all the more every second while over righting your vessel and thus inventing the Close Sailboat Trebuchet with you its first accidental passenger.

Now if you only weren't still clipped into that topping lift as you created the human pinwheel instead of being launched likely clearing both decks of everything in your path as you make your Buzzlightyear Style Passes, helmet be damned.

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RandVanRed@reddit

This guy races single-handed.

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sailingtroy@reddit

No, I actually don't. I race with guys who single hand sometimes. But I really do my best to never operate my boat alone. I have a lot of respect for the practice, but it's not my jam. I like teamwork and safety culture.

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Mendeltje@reddit

This. I race, also singlehanded, and sailingtroy is right. I do always look around a lot when I’m on autopilot stowing the sails, getting the dock lines ready and stuff. Single handing means you don’t want to rush. It also means you have to be able to leave what you’re doing to tend to immediate issues (like making evasive manoeuvres). I have a remote for my autopilot around my neck just for these occasions.

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Wise_Use1012@reddit

Wow a lot of irresponsible people in this chat. What you should have done is gotten the name of this boat and reported it the whoever is the boating authority in that area.

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sailing-ModTeam@reddit

Your post was removed for conduct unbecoming a Yachtsman.

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alskdjfhg32@reddit

Dude he wasn’t a hammered power boater going 40, how fast do we think his boat was going 10knts? I’d love to see you go tattletale to who?, the coasties? They will file that report in the garbage can

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Wise_Use1012@reddit

Blah blah blah whine whine whine oh look that guy you didn’t report just killed someone. Their blood is on your hands. Safety is the responsibility of all people either it’s on the road in the air or on the sea. Get over yourself.

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sailing-ModTeam@reddit

Your post was removed for conduct unbecoming a Yachtsman.

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Risc_Terilia@reddit

You're literally the person whining here

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rainman_95@reddit

Lol blood? They didnt even swap gelcoat.

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Sterling_____Archer@reddit

Time to roll out the long irons. 🏴‍☠️

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ButterscotchNo7232@reddit

How close is close and what kind of channel?

My reaction and tolerance is different in a crowded, narrow channel compared to a wide channel with little traffic.

I've been on both sides of the equation: forced to take evasive action because another slipper wasn't paying attention and being surprised I was getting too close for my comfort to another boat because I wasn't paying attention.

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AnarZak@reddit

in europe they fly a flag for single handers, and internationally people register their AIS as "solo sailor XXX".

i doesn't give them any preferential rights, but it gives surrounding vessels a head's up that they might be less manoeuvrable or responsive

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CaptainBFF@reddit

So i learned something new today! What does the single hander flag look like?

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AnarZak@reddit

numeral pennant ONE

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WildWestScientist@reddit

I've never seen that once before, after over 13,000 nm around the Baltic and North Sea. Where do they do that?

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AnarZak@reddit

duckduckgo is your friend:

https://www.yacht.de/en/law/flag-management-number-pennant-unaone-for-solo-sailors-necessary-or-unnecessary-custom/

https://forums.ybw.com/threads/pennant-no-1-and-single-handers.419706/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SailboatCruising/comments/u1u66f/is_the_number_1_flag_used_as_an_indicator_of_solo/?rdt=51521

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WildWestScientist@reddit

Interesting, I learnt something new today, thanks!

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AnarZak@reddit

👍

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Trango226@reddit

Definitely a thing on the North Sea especially during high season. Provides some nuance. I'll course correct a few degrees on an easy course.

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WildWestScientist@reddit

That's interesting, thanks! I don't recall having seen it before, but can see why it would be useful

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5cheinwerfer@reddit

Don't know where in Europe you mean, I've never seen that in Germany.

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AnarZak@reddit

https://www.yacht.de/en/law/flag-management-number-pennant-unaone-for-solo-sailors-necessary-or-unnecessary-custom/

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6etyvcgjyy@reddit

she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision....... SHALL!!

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6etyvcgjyy@reddit

Rule 17 - Action by Stand-on Vessel

(a) (i) Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed. (ii) The latter vessel may however take action to avoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these Rules.

(b) When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.

(c) A power-driven vessel which takes action in a crossing situation in accordance with sub-paragraph 7 (a)(ii) of this Rule to avoid collision with another power-driven vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port for a vessel on her own port side.

(d) This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way.

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johnbro27@reddit

Horn plus loud hailer. I've yelled at skippers of 100+ foot classic schooners who weren't minding their helm under power when I was under sail. Rules are rules. Somebody is supposed to be keeping a lookout.

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Leee33337@reddit

I think you should complain about it to some strangers on the internet, fuckin nancy

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CaptainBFF@reddit

What you really should have done is give him 5 short blasts just before you need to make evasive maneuvers

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TeaB0nez@reddit

I can’t believe someone is giving this enough mind to stew on it and then make a Reddit post about it. Just move on. What could you POSSIBLY accomplish “having a conversation” with this guy?

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danielt1263@reddit

Do you mean have a "conversation" with him while on the water? You likely would have to get much closer than you already did in order to do that... Especially for him to hear you over his engine...

An on the water conversation doesn't sound very safe...

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Anthony-upon-Tyne@reddit

Here lies the body of Michael O'Day Who died defending his right of way. He was right, so right as he sailed along But he's just as dead As if he'd been wrong.

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Tyler_Isrock@reddit

Give him a broadside and board him in the smoke ?

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soCalForFunDude@reddit

There’s the rules of the road, but the last rule is, avoid collisions. You might have had the right of way, but it was also your job to avoid a collision. Happens, learn from it and move on.

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msrivette@reddit

Seems like all is fine.

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Decent-Party-9274@reddit

Continue your day and watch out for other boats. There was no damage to your boat or his boat, right?

He didn’t intend to not see you, he steered away when he saw you. Get over it.

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jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit

He violated at least three rules. The vessel being overtaken is always the stand on vessel. There must always be proper watch. You must always travel at safe speed. You seeing imminent collision and not maneuvering to avoid it would also be a violation. The only other thing you could have done I can think of is blast at least five short on your horn repeatedly until he heard you.

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MissingGravitas@reddit

It sounds like he may have maneuvered, but he didn’t sound five blasts as the Rules required!

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Salt-y@reddit

😂... move on.

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permalink_child@reddit

You yelled “Hey”. Other boat changed course.

What were you doing? 1.5 knts?

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